Sounds of a Playground Fading

Sounds of a Playground Fading is the tenth studio album by the Swedish metal band In Flames, released on June 15, 2011.[7] It is the first album recorded by In Flames without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who left the band in February 2010,[8] making it also the only In Flames release not to have two guitarists. The track "Deliver Us" was featured in the soundtrack to the video game Saints Row IV. The album was reissued in 2014, featuring five additional tracks.[9]

Sounds of a Playground Fading
Studio album by In Flames
Released	June 15, 2011 (2011-06-15) (see release dates)
Recorded	October 11, 2010–January 25, 2011
Studio	IF Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden
Genre	Alternative metal
Length	53:58
Label	Century Media, Razzia
Producer	Roberto Laghi, Anders Fridén
In Flames chronology
A Sense of Purpose (2008) Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011) Siren Charms (2014)
Singles from Sounds of a Playground Fading
"Deliver Us" Released: May 7, 2011 "Where the Dead Ships Dwell" Released: November 14, 2011 "Ropes" Released: February 5, 2013

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	68/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Kerrang!	[2]
Metal Hammer	[3]
Metal Storm	[4]
Sputnikmusic	[5]
Earshot.at	[6]

Background

According to Anders, this album features increasingly wide vocal registers and reduced growls.[10] In addition, some of the album's songs "pretty much go against the hard rock formula."[7]

The entire album was written by Björn Gelotte. The guitar solos, unlike most other albums, were able to be pre-planned out and worked much better according to the in-studio report.

Release and promotion

The band revealed the cover art, track listing and first single, "Deliver Us", on their official Facebook page in April and May 2011. Then on June 3, 2011, aol.com streamed the entire album on their music network.[11] In Flames performed the album on their European tour with support from Noctiferia,[12] as part of the "Defenders of the Faith III" tour, with bands Trivium, Rise to Remain, Ghost and Insense,[13] and with Trivium in their North American Tour.[14]

Deliver Us was also featured in the soundtrack for the 2013 video game Saints Row 4.

Reception

Sounds of a Playground Fading received generally positive reviews. Review aggregate Metacritic gave the album a 68 out of 100 based on 6 professional critics. It debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard 200 album chart; number 2 on the Top Hard Rock chart, number 7 on the Top Rock chart and number 5 on the Top Independent chart. It also debuted at Number 1 of the Media Control German Albums chart, and at Number 12 of the Billboard Canadian Albums chart.[15]

Track listing

All music written by Björn Gelotte and all lyrics by Anders Fridén. All songs arranged by In Flames.[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sounds of a Playground Fading"	4:44
2.	"Deliver Us"	3:31
3.	"All for Me"	4:31
4.	"The Puzzle"	4:34
5.	"Fear Is the Weakness"	4:07
6.	"Where the Dead Ships Dwell"	4:27
7.	"The Attic"	3:18
8.	"Darker Times"	3:25
9.	"Ropes"	3:42
10.	"Enter Tragedy"	3:59
11.	"Jester's Door"	2:38
12.	"A New Dawn"	5:52
13.	"Liberation"	5:10
Total length:		53:58

Japanese edition

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Deliver Us (Instrumental version)"	3:31
Total length:		57:29

iTunes Deluxe Edition

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Deliver Us" (Music video)	3:31
14.	"Darker Times" (Eagleclaw remix)	5:45
Total length:		59:43

Deluxe Edition DVD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Recording 'Sounds of a Playground Fading'" (Studio report)	27:28

2014 reissue

No.	Title	Length
14.	"Darker Times" (Eagleclaw remix)	5:45
15.	"The Puzzle" (Big Chocolate remix)	3:43
16.	"Where the Dead Ships Dwell" (Casper remix)	4:05
17.	"Where the Dead Ships Dwell" (The Qemists remix)	5:12
18.	"Where the Dead Ships Dwell" (Kristof Bathory – Dawn of Ashes remix)	4:46
Total length:		77:29

Personnel

In Flames

• Anders Fridén – vocals
• Björn Gelotte – guitars
• Peter Iwers – bass guitar
• Daniel Svensson – drums, percussion

Production

• Anders Björler – filming, editing & directing ("In the Studio"/studio report)
• Johannes Bergion – cello (on "A New Dawn")
• Roberto Laghi – producer
• Örjan Örnkloo – keyboards and samples
• Dave Correia – album cover art

Release Dates

Region	Date
Sweden	15 June 2011 (2011-06-15)
Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Norway[17]	17 June 2011 (2011-06-17)
Europe (excluding Spain, Italy, Finland, Hungary)[17]	20 June 2011 (2011-06-20)
North America, Spain & Italy[17]	21 June 2011 (2011-06-21)
Finland & Hungary[17]	22 June 2011 (2011-06-22)
Australia & New Zealand[17]	24 June 2011 (2011-06-24)

References

1. Monger, James Christopher (2011). "Sounds of a Playground Fading In Flames | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
2. "In Flames - Sounds of a Sell-Out Review". Kerrang!.
3. "In Flames review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
4. "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading review". Metal Storm.
5. "In Flames review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
6. "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading Review". Earshot.at. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
7. "In Flames Signs with Century Media Records". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. March 28, 2011. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
8. Jesper Strömblad; Anders; Peter; Daniel; Björn (12 February 2010). "JESPER STRÖMBLAD LEAVES IN FLAMES". In Flames Myspace Blog. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
9. https://www.discogs.com/de/In-Flames-Sounds-Of-A-Playground-Fading/release/6211453
10. Kim (14 January 2011). "Sounds Of A Playground Fading". Kim bloggar. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
11. Kim (3 June 2011). "In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading - Streaming". Metal CallOut. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
12. http://www.rocbloc.com/2011/05/19/in-flames-announces-fall-european-tour/%5B%5D
13. "Metal Hammer | Louder". Metal Hammer Magazine.
14. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=165750%5B%5D
15. "Sounds of a Playground Fading chart position". billboard.com. July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-07.
16. "In Flames - In The Studio Episode #2". In Flames Youtube Channel. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
17. "In Flames: New Album Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner. April 13, 2011. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.